TSX may open lower

CANADA: Toronto's main stock index looked set to open slightly lower on Friday, with a softer bullion price likely to weigh on shares of gold miners, offsetting the impact of some firmer-than-expected US economic data.

Canadian equity futures pointed to a lower open.

US stock index futures added to their gains on Friday, with Dow futures turning positive as data showed durable goods orders rose more than expected in May.

European shares pared gains on Friday as traders pointed to a suspension of trade of Italian banking stocks.

Asian markets rose, with Nikkei average rising to a three-week closing high, led by Chinese stocks on hopes inflation will ease soon.

The Thomson Reuters-Jefferies CRB index, a global commodities benchmark, rose 0.42 percent in early trade.

Oil's sharp sell-off paused as the impact of a surprise announcement of emergency fuel stocks from consumer nations faded. [O/R]

Gold eased, adding to losses after a fall of as much as 2 percent the day before, after a rally in the dollar gathered pace as investors grew increasingly doubtful over Greece's ability to remain solvent. * Copper rose more than 1 percent, after better than expected economic data from Germany boosted the euro and Greece's deal with international lenders lifted equity markets.

The company's aerospace unit said a European customer has placed an order for 10 CS100 jetliners, valued at about $628 million.

The bitumen producer said it increased its net resource volume by 10 percent and raised its capital expense to drill more wells.

The oil and gas company said it was indicted by Canadian authorities for bribing a Bangladeshi public official.

The company said on Thursday it would spin off non-core assets into two new companies so that it can focus on development of its flagship Casino project in Canada's Yukon Territory.

Following is a summary of research actions on Canadian companies reported by Reuters.

Fortis Inc rating cut to sector perform from outperform at National Bank

Copyright Reuters, 2011